Can package



ul 8, 1969 v. H. CHATTEN 3,454,156

CAN PACKAGE Filed Aug. 4. 1967 Sheet of 5 INVENTOR V/CTOZ H CWATTEA/July 8, 1969 v. H. CHATTEN 3,454,156

CAN PACKAGE Filed Aug. 4. 1967 1 Sheet EMZ BY I w zw/z u y 8.1969 I V.H.HAT1-EN 3,4 4,15

v CAN PACKAGE Filed Aug. 4. 1967 Shae 0f 5 INVENTOR V/C/UE H CHATTEA/July 8,1969 v. H. CHATTEN 3,454,156

cm PACKAGE Filed Aug. 4; 1967 V Y Y Sheet 4 of 5 July 8,: 1969VfH/CHATTEN I 3,

v 01m PACKAGE Filed Aug'. 4. 1967 7 Sheet 5 of 5 z INVENTOR V/CTOE H ICHATT/V 3,454,156 CAN PACKAGE Victor H. Chatten, 1567 W. 215th St.,Torrance, Calif. 90501 Filed Aug. 4, 1967, Ser. No. 658,386 Int. Cl.B65d 85/62, 21/00, 25/22, 25/28, 75/00 U.S. Cl. 206-65 27 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A package is formed of a group of duplicatecylindrical cans each having an annular bead at one end or both ends. Atension band encircling the junction of two tiers of such cans engagesthe annular beads and cooperates with a retainer device within theinterior of the package to prevent radial or axial separation of thecans.

Background of the invention This invention relates to a package ofduplicate cylindrical cans adapted to be marketed as a unit. A device ofthis type may be classified as a multiple article package. Packages ofthis general type are commonly employed for marketing beverages. Anobject of the present invention is to provide an improved can packagefor six, eight or twelve cans, which package requires a minimum ofelements or parts, and which can be constructed at minimum costs. Theseobjects are achieved by joining two groups or tiers of cans end-to-endby means of a flexible tension band which overlies the outward extendingannular beads on adjacent tiers of the cans. A retainer element ordevice, which may take several forms, contacts the cans at locationswithin the package.

Summary Briefly stated, this invention uses a flexible tension band toencircle the junction of two tiers of cans mounted end-to-end, theflexible band engaging adjacent annular beads formed at the ends of thecans and also embracing portions of the cans immediately adjacent suchbeads; A retainer device contacting the cans within the interior of thepackage cooperates with the tension band to prevent unwanted separationof the cans. Six-pack, eightpack and twelve-pack groups of cans may bepackaged in this manner. The adjacent ends of the cans in end-to-endrelation are kept clean and are not exposed to dust and dirt. Theinvention is also useful in connection with packaging of cans which havean annular bead only at one end. Various forms of carrying handles maybe employed, if desired.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showinga preferred embodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional plan view taken substantially on the lines 22 asshown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation partly in section and partly broken away.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the ceneral retainer device shown inFIGURES 2 and 3.

FIGURE 5 is an enlargement of a portion of FIGURE 3, partly broken away.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view showing a modified form of the invention.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional plan view partly broken away. 7

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the retainer device shown in FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a side elevation showing another modification, employing aU-shaped handle.

United States Patent 0 Patented July 8, 1969 FIGURE 10 is a sectionalelevation taken substantially on the lines 1010 as shown in FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of the U-shaped handle.

FIGURE 12 is a side elevation showing another modification, togetherwith a carrying handle.

FIGURE 13 is a perspective view showing a device similar to that ofFIGURE 12, but in which the handle of FIGURE 12 is omitted, and anotherform of handle is employed.

FIGURE 14 is a perspective view partly broken away, showing anothermodification.

FIGURE 15 is a sectional plan view taken substantially on the lines15-15 as shown in FIGURE 14.

FIGURE 16 is a perspective view showing another modification, partlybroken away.

FIGURE 17 is a sectional plan view taken substantially on the lines 1717as shown in FIGURE 16. All of the cans are arranged about a centralopening defined between them.

FIGURE 18 shows the parts of the retainer assembly employed in FIGURES16 and 17, prior to assembly.

FIGURE 19 is a perspective view showing another modification, partlybroken away.

FIGURE 20 is a sectional plan view taken substantially on the lines 2020as shown in FIGURE 19.

FIGURE 21 is a side elevation showing the portion of the device ofFIGURES l9 and 20 on an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 22 shows the parts of the retainer device employed in the deviceof FIGURES 19, 20 and 21, prior to assembly.

FIGURE 23 is a perspective view partly broken away showing one form oftension band comprising a perforated metal strip.

FIGURE 24 is a perspective view partly broken away showing another formof tension band formed of extruded plastic material.

FIGURE 25 is a top plan view of a modified form of retainer.

FIGURE 26 is a sectional view taken substantially on the lines 26-26,partly broken away, and showing how the retainer of FIGURE 25 cooperateswith abutting angular beads on superposed cylindrical cans.

FIGURE 27 is a side elevation partly broken away showing another form ofcan package containing twelve cana Description of the preferredembodiments The can package shown in FIGURES 1-5 is generally designated10, and it includes eight duplicate cylindrical cans 11. Each of thecans is conventional in construction and each is provided with anoutward extending bead 12 at each end. The cans are of the type commonlyused for beverages, and therefore one end wall of each can may beprovided with a suitable pull tab opening device, not shown. Four of thecans are arranged in a lower tier 13 with their annular beads 12 intangent contact. The other four cans 11 are mounted in an upper tier 14and each can in the upper tier is directly superposed upon acorresponding can in the lower tier 13. The cans 11 in the upper tier 14also have their annular beads 12 in tangent contact. The cans in thelower tier 13 have their end walls 'with the pull tab opening devices atthe upper end, whereas the cans in the upper tier 14 are inverted sothat their end walls with the pull tab opening devices are on the lowerends. All of the end walls with the pull tab opening devices aretherefore kept clean and are protected against dust and dirt.

In accordance with this invention, a retainer device 16 is located inthe center of the can package 10. As best shown in FIGURE 4, theretainer device 16 has four arcuate concave contact surfaces 17symmetrically positioned and each interrupted by a central groove 18.The surfaces 17 have the same curvature as the cylindrical wall portionsof the cans 11, and the width of the grooves 18 is proportioned toreceive two abutting annular beads, as shown in FIGURE 5. The surfaces17 thus straddle the contacting beads. A central opening 19 reducesweight and saves material.

A tension band 20 encircles all of the cans in the package and overliesthe junction between the tiers 13 and 14. The central portion of thetension band overlies the abutting annular beads 12, and the edgeportions contact the cylindrical wall portions of the cans 11. The bandtension holds the individual cans 11 in contact with each other and inengagement with the retainer 16. The cans 11 are thus effectively heldagainst axial or radial separation.

When it is desired to remove the can 11 from the package 10, one of thecans 11 in the upper tier 14 is grasped manually and rocked or tilted ina manner so that the upper end of the can 11 moves away from thediagonally opposite can in the upper tier. This action bends or breaksthe retainer 16 to permit withdrawal of the can 11.

In this form of the device, no separate carrying handle is provided.However, each of the four spaces 21 between the tension band 20 and theouter surfaces of the cans 11 is large enough to permit one or twofingers to be inserted, and thereby enable the tension band 20 to beused as a carrying handle.

In the form of the device shown in FIGURES 6, 7 and 8, the can package25 is similar to that previously described, except that it contains sixcans instead of eight. The cans 11 and annular beads 12 are the same asthat previously described. The retainer 26 as shown in FIG- URE 8 hasonly three curved surfaces instead of four. However, the cooperativeaction between the retainer 26 and the encircling tension band 27 is thesame as that previously described.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGURES 9, 10 and 11, the canpackage 10a is the same as the can package 10, previously described,except that a U-shaped handle 29 is provided for carrying the package10a. The handle has parallel legs 30 which straddle the tension band 20and retainer 16 and which extend through the clearance space betweencylindrical wall portions of adjacent cans 11. Enlargements 31 formed atthe extending end of the legs 30 are wider than the clearance spacebetween the cans 11, and accordingly the handle 29 is wedged between thecans and its accidental disassembly from the package is prevented.

FIGURE 12 shows a can package 35 which is similar to the can package 10previously described, except that it has three tiers of cans instead oftwo; twelve cans are provided instead of eight. Two spaced tension bands20 are provided, each encircling a retainer 16. A handle 36 is insertedbetween adjacent cans and between the two tension bands 20. The handle36 has an enlargement 37 at its inner end similar to the enlargement 31on the handle 29.

The can package 40 shown in FIGURE 13 is identical to the can package35, except that a ditferent form of handle is provided. In this case,the handle 41 is formed as an extra loop of the same web that forms thetension bands 20a and 20b.

FIGURES 14 and 15 show a modified form of the invention in which theretainer device comprises a flat sheet which also serves as a carryinghandle. The can package 45 includes eight cans 11 positioned in twotiers, and having the abutting annular beads 12 encircled by the tensionband 20. The combined retainer and carrying handle 46 comprises atwo-layer flat strip extending between cans in both tiers. The strip isprovided with two wide slots 47 and two narrow slots 48. The wide slots47 receive and straddle the abutting annular beads 12 on the superposedcans 11, and the narrow slots 48 receive the tangent annular beads onthe upper end of the cans in the upper tier. The thickness of the stripis the same as the clearance distance between the cylindrical walls ofadjacent cans 11. The handle portion projects from the upper tier ofcans, and the two layers of the handle portion may be separated andspread apart, if desired, to facilitate stacking of one can package onanother. The outline of the two parts of the handle 46 in separatedposition is shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 15. Cutout tabs 49 and 50may be deflected laterally from the remainder of the strip 46 and thesecutout tabs have concave arcuate surfaces 51 for engagement with thecylindrical walls of the cans in the upper tier.

The can package 50 shown in FIGURES 16, 17 and 18 is the same as the canpackage 45 previously described, except that the retainer device issomewhat different in construction and does not include a carryinghandle. The retainer generally designated 51 comprises two identicalstrips 52 each having spaced apertures 53 and a central slot 54. The twostrips 52 are assembled to form a cross and this brings the apertures 53into the same plane. These apertures receive and straddle the abuttingannular beads 12 on the superposed cans 11. The retainer 51 thuscooperates with the tension band 20 to maintain the cans 11 againstaxial or radial displacement.

FIGURES 19-22 show details of a can package 55 composed of cylindricalcans 56 having an annular bead 57 at one end only. Aluminum canspresently in use are constructed in this fashion. The cans 56 areassembled in the same manner as the cans in the package 10, describedabove, with the annular beads 57 in tangent contact and with the cans inthe upper tier oriented so that their annular beads abut the annularbead on the can therebelow. The tension band 20 operates in the mannerpreviously described. The retainer 58 comprises two duplicate strips 59each having laterally spaced apertures 60, and a slot 61. The strips areassembled at right angles to form a cross, with the aperture 60 all inthe same plane. These apertures receive and straddle the abuttingannular beads 57 on the cans 56 which are placed end-toend.

The tension band employed in any of the can packages described abovemust be flexible enough to conform to the abutting annular beads of thesuperposed cans, but should not lose its tension after installation.Various forms of plastic materials are suitable for the tension band. InFIGURE 23, there is shown a tension band formed of a perforated metalstrip 65 having a series of holes 66. The metal portions between theholes readily deform to provide a locking grip on the abutting annularbeads of the superposed cans.

The tension band shown in FIGURE 24 comprises a plastic strip 67 whichmay be extruded to provide a central offset portion 168. The groove 69formed by this offset portion is just wide enough to accept the abuttingannular beads on the superposed cans.

FIGURES 25 and 26 show a modified form of retainer device 71. Thiscomprises a metal stamping having a plurality of prongs 72 and 73 bentfrom the plane of the central portion 74. Alternate prongs extend inopposite directions, and these prongs are shaped so that they extendover and confine between them the abutting annular beads 12 of adjacentsuperposed cans 11. A central hole 75 may be provided for reduction inweight. This form of retainer may be used in any of the can packagesshown in FIGURES l, 9, 12, 13 and 27, and FIGURE 6 by using athree-sided retainer.

FIGURE 27 shows a twelve-can package 75 having a combined handle andretainer 76 of the general type shown in FIGURES l4 and 15. The handle76 is longer, however, since it is perforated at 77 and 78 toaccommodate the two spaced groups of abutting annular beads 12.

I claim:

1. A can package comprising: at least three cans in a lower tier and thesame number of cans in an upper tier, the cans being duplicates andarranged about a central opening defined by them, each can in the uppertier being directly superposed on a corresponding can in the lower tier,each of the cans in the lower tier having an annular bead at its upperend contacting the annular beads on adjacent cans in that tier, each ofthe cans in the upper tier having an annular bead at its lower endcontacting the annular beads on adjacent cans in that tier, a tensionband encircling all of the cans in both tiers and contacting a portionof the annular head of each can, a retainer element contacting a portionof each can in both tiers, said retainer element having can contactingsurfaces straddling the contacting portions of the beads on said cansand being positioned within the central opening of the can package andencircled by said tension band, said tension band and said retainerelement cooperating to prevent axial separation of the cans and to holdthem against relative lateral movement.

2. The can package of claim 1 in which the cans each have annular beadson both ends, and wherein the tension band contacts annular beads onlyon adjacent ends 'of the cans in both tiers.

3. The can package of claim 1 in which the cans each have an annularhead at one end only.

4. The can package of claim 1 in which there are four cans in each tier.

5. The can package of claim 1 in which there are three cans in eachtier.

6. The can package of claim 1 in which the retainer element has aplurality of grooves each receiving a pair of annular beads on adjacentcans in different tiers.

7. The can package of claim 4 in which the retainer element has fourcurved grooves each receiving a pair of annular beads on adjacent cansin different tiers.

8. The can package of claim 5 in which the retainer element has threecurved grooves each receiving a pair of annular beads on adjacent cansin different tiers.

9. A retainer for a plurality of duplicate cylindrical cans, each canhaving a laterally extending bead at each end, the retainer having aplurality of concave arcuate surfaces each interrupted by a centralgroove, each groove being proportioned to accept two adjacent annularbeads on cans placed end-to-end.

10. The retainer of claim 9, in which there are four concave arcuatesurfaces, for an eight-can package.

11. The retainer of claim 9, in which there are three concave arcuatesurfaces, for a six-can package.

12. A can package comprising: at least three cans in a lower tier andthe same number of cans in an upper tier, the cans being cylindricalduplicates and arranged about a central opening defined by them, eachcan in the upper tier being directly superposed on a corresponding canin the lower tier, each of the cans having an outward extending annularbead at each end, the annular beads on each can being tangent to annularbeads on adjacent cans, a tension band encircling all of the cans inboth tiers and contacting a portion of one of the annular beads on eachcan, and a retainer element located within the central opening andwithin said tension band and provided with can contacting surfaces, eachsurface being interrupted by a groove proportioned to receive andstraddle two adjacent annular bands on adjacent cans in different tiers.

13. An eight-can package according to claim 12 in which there are fourcans in each tier.

14. A six-can package according to claim 12 in which there are threecans in each tier.

15. The can package of claim 12 in which a U-shaped handle has legsstraddling said tension band and said retainer, said legs each extendingbetween a pair of adjacent cans, and means at the inner end of each legpreventing radial removal of said handle from said cans.

16. A twelve-can package comprising: three tiers of four cans each andarranged about a central opening defined by them, the cans beingcylindrical duplicates, each with an annular bead at each end, the beadson cans in the same tier being tangent, each can in an upper tier beingdirectly superposed on a corresponding can in a lower tier, two tensionbands, the first band encircling the junction of the cans in the firstand second tiers, and the second hand encircling the junction of thecans in the second and third tiers, two retainer elements eachpositioned within the central opening, one within each of said tensionbands, respectively, and each having surfaces contacting cans inadjacent tiers, said surfaces straddling the contacting portions of thebeads on said cans, said tension bands and retainer elements cooperatingto prevent axial separation of the cans and to hold them against lateralmovement.

17. The can package of claim 16 having a handle extending betweenadjacent cans in the second tier, the handle having means at its innerend preventing removal of said handle from said cans.

18. The can package of claim 16 having a handle connecting the twotension bands.

19. A can package comprising: a plurality of cans in a lower tier and aplurality of cans in an upper tier, the cans being duplicates, each canin the upper tier being directly superposed on a corresponding can inthe lower tier, each of the cans in the lower tier having an annularbead at its upper end contacting the annular beads on adjacent cans inthat tier, each of the cans in the upper tier having an annular bead atits lower end contacting the annular beads on adjacent cans in thattier, a tension band encircling all of the cans in both tiers andcontacting a portion of the annular bead of each can, a combined handleand retainer element comprising a sheet inserted between cans in bothtiers and having a first pair of apertures to receive abutting beads onend-to-end cans and having a second pair of apertures to receive upperbeads on cans in the upper tier, said tension band and said retainerelement cooperating to prevent axial separation of the cans and to holdthem against lateral movement.

20. The can package of claim 19 in which the sheet has fold-out partsextending between adjacent cans in the upper tier.

21. An eight-can package comprising: four cans in a lower tier and fourcans in an upper tier, the cans being cylindrical duplicates, each canin the upper tier being directly superposed on a corresponding can inthe lower tier, each of the cans having an outward extending annularhead at least at one end, the annular beads on each can being tangent toannular beads on adjacent cans, a tension band encircling all of thecans in both tiers and contacting a portion of an annular bead on eachcan, a retainer device comprising a pair of duplicate sheets each havinga pair of slots to receive adjacent annular beads, the sheets beingpositioned at right angles and extending between adjacent cans in bothtiers, said tension band and retainer device cooperating to preventaxial separation of the cans and to hold them against lateral movement.

22. The eight-can package of claim 21 in which the cans each haveannular heads at both ends.

23. The eight-can package of claim 21 in which the cans have annularheads at one end only.

24. The can package of claim 1 in which the tension band comprises aperforated metal strip.

25. The can package of claim 1 in which the tension band comprises astrip having a longitudinal groove for reception of said annular beads.

26. A retainer for a plurality of duplicate cylindrical cans, each canhaving a laterally extending annular bead at least at one end, theretainer having a plurality of concave can-engaging portions eachprovided with two spaced series of prongs adapted to confine abuttingbeads between them on cans placed end-to-end.

27. The can package of claim 19 in which there are twelve cans in threetiers, and wherein the sheet form- 7 8 ing the combined handle andretainer element has two 3,208,588 9/1965 Mosse et a1. pairs ofapertures to receive abutting annular beads. 3,275,134 9/1966 -Bixler.

3,343,670 9/ 1967 Stephan. References clted 3,348,674 10/1967 Poupitch.UNITED STATES PATENTS r 5/193O Hothersall WILLIAM T. DIXSON, JR.,Primary Examiner. 7/1941 Hothersall. 5/1954 Johnson et a1. CL 8/1961Bruce. 22097, 102; 22952

